Biography

Lisa Groarke

Elizabeth Turner: A Biography.

The year was 2001 and the day was a cold and wet November one when Elizabeth held her new-born baby boy, William Simon Turner, for the first time. All around her, there was a buzz of excitement as new parents met and held their precious infants for the first time.

Across the ward, Elizabeth witnessed a father gently cradling his child in his arms, Experiencing so many emotions and feelings for the first time which is when she suddenly, without warning, Elizabeth realizes   her mouth is open like a hollow tunnel as she finds herself gently screaming inside.

Looking into William’s eyes, she is overwhelmed with emotion- his father, her husband Simon, should be here to share this wonderful joyous moment but, but for reasons beyond either of their understanding or control, he is not. Why? Why? Why?

Getting ready for work early one morning in September, Elizabeth’s thoughts were with her husband, Simon, who was away on a business trip- the last, he promised before their child would be born. She was looking forward to him being around more and for them to put the finishing touches to the nursery, which still needed a decision on the colour for the walls.
With that, she switched off the television, grabbed her keys off the sideboard and put the house alarm on before leaving for work.

Meeting followed meeting in the busy channel four offices, until Elizabeth’s best friend and co-worker Jane picked her up for their lunch date, which consisted of office gossip, laughter and an airing of frustration of the day so far. All the fun of lunch meant Elizabeth completely forgot that Simon had not called at his usual time. When lunch was over, both women fought to pay the bill for each other, until they eventually decided to go halves. All the back to the office there was a hint of chaos on the streets but Elizabeth took little regard. She was too preoccupied with the afternoon meeting; she was already running late for....